Fresh-Water Springs in Florida
 

A few people have mentioned different springs - clear water to bottom - to us. All north of Tampa and many west of 75. Which is your favorite?
My wife and I will be doing a road trip from SW Florida to see the north western coast of Florida, and the Panhandle in early May. Our first stop is to be near one of these springs.
Suggestions for lodging in the area would also be helpful.

Wakulla Springs is the only one I've been to and it's been about a million years. There is a lodge there...and alligators.

The Springs of Florida are one of the great delights of the US. The watering holes of your dreams. Like out of a movie. Beware: it's cold water swimming. Exceptionally invigorating.

I have been to springs in Central Florida, but not where you are talking about. Here is a guide to the springs of Florida with pictures, so you can decide for yourself.

https://www.floridaspringlife.com/florida-springs/

Recent NYTimes article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/11/travel/florida-freshwater-springs.html

Thank you, to all who took the time to share suggestions.
It will be an adventure for us -- something we have missed these past two years.

My husband and I visited 4-5 FreshWater Springs in Florida, but most of all I fell into the soul of Gilchrist Blue Springs (located about 20-25 miles south of Lake City). Not only a beautiful picture, but also a lot of fish, turtles. This is our favorite place, but in general, each place is unique in its own way.